By Michael Despain
RINGGOLD, GEORGIA (September 3, 2021)– The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series would kick off a Labor Day weekend tripleheader of racing action at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA on Friday evening with the Labor Day Showdown and Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, GA would take the lead on lap two of the event and lead the remainder of way to claim a $4,000 payday.
The win by the 28-year old McIntosh would be his first of the season with the series and would be his third career Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series victory and come behind the wheel of the Blount Motorsports owned Rocket Chassis powered by a Vic Hill Race Engine and carrying sponsorship from Blount Excavating, Stowers Machinery, Massey Electric, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, Walker’s Truck Contractors, and Arnold’s Trucking.
Jason Croft would lead the opening circuit of the event prior to Donald McIntosh taking the lead in turn two on lap two. By lap three, McIntosh would hold the lead over Croft, followed by Sam Seawright, Jensen Ford, and Ray Cook. The front five would remain the same until Cruz Skinner would work past Cook for fifth on lap seven. McIntosh would begin to work slower traffic on lap nine and would be mired in heavy traffic when the first caution of the event waved on lap twelve for Craig Greer, who had slowed on the backchute. The restart would see McIntosh maintain the race lead, with Seawright taking second from Croft and Skinner taking fourth from Ford. Ford would retake the fourth position from Skinner on lap fourteen and Ford would mount a charge on Croft and take third on lap seventeen. McIntosh would be back into traffic once again on lap eighteen, while Skinner would drive past Croft for fourth on lap nineteen. The final caution of the event waved one circuit later when Ray Cook would slow on the frontchute after putting down some fluid and would be done for the night. The restart would again see McIntosh maintain the top spot, while Ford would go to second and Skinner would take third, shuffling Seawright back to fourth, while Heath Hindman would now be fifth. Seawright would take third away from Skinner on lap twenty-one and would continue to charge and take second from Ford on lap twenty-three. McIntosh would again motor away from the field, while Croft would make his way back into the top five, takin fifth from Hindman on lap twenty-six. McIntosh would again be back to lapping slower traffic by lap twenty-eight and his machine would be extremely maneuverable in traffic and he would maintain a comfortable lead. Ford and Skinner would battle for third at this point and Skinner would take third from Ford on lap thirty-eight. McIntosh would take the checkered flag first by 5.350 seconds over Seawright, with Skinner finishing third, while Ford and Croft completed the top five. Hindman would head up the remainder of the top ten finishers, followed by fifteenth-place starting Jesse Lowe, thirteenth-place starter David Payne, Dusty Carver, and Ahnna Parkhurst.
The next events for the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series will be Saturday September 4 at Mountain View Raceway in Spring City, TN for $4,000 to win (first-ever Super Late Model event at the track) and Sunday September 5 at Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN for the 13th Annual Buddy Rogers Memorial, paying $10,044 to win.
For more information about the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series, please contact Chris Tilley at (828) 361-5981 or visit the tour’s webpage at www.IMDIRT.net or visit the tour page Iron-Man Racing Series on Facebook and Iron-Man Series (@CTPROMOTE) on Twitter.
The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series would like to thank the following sponsors and marketing partners for their support of the 2021 racing season: Valvoline, Zerex by Valvoline, Brucebilt Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, E-Z-GO, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, DirtonDirt.com, FloRacing, XS Power Batteries, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Swafford Signs, MSR Mafia, Envy Suspension, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Cruise with the Champions, KND Safety, Impact RaceGear, Race Clean, and Denby’s J&J Construction.
About Valvoline™
Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. It operates and franchises approximately 1,400 quick-lube locations, and it is the No. 2 chain by number of stores in the United States under the Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM brand and the No. 3 chain by number of stores in Canada under the Valvoline Great Canadian Oil Change brand. It also markets Valvoline lubricants and automotive chemicals, including the Valvoline High Mileage with MaxLife technology motor oil for engines over 75,000 miles; Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic motor oil; Valvoline Premium Blue™ heavy-duty motor oil; Valvoline Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid; and Zerex™ antifreeze. To learn more, visit www.valvoline.com.
Official Summary of Results
Feature Results for Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Labor Day Showdown at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, GA on Friday September 3, 2021
1. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
2. Sam Seawright-Fort Payne, Ala.
3. Cruz Skinner-Oxford, Ala.
4. Jensen Ford-Johnson City, Tenn.
5. Jason Croft-Woodstock, Ga.
6. Heath Hindman-Signal Mountain, Tenn.
7. Jesse Lowe-Crossville, Tenn.
8. David Payne-Murphy, N.C.
9. Dusty Carver-Englewood, Tenn.
10. Ahnna Parkhurst-Evans, Ga.
11. David Brannon-Elora, Tenn.
12. Tod Hernandez-Chattanooga, Tenn.
13. Scott Cook-Shelbyville, Tenn.
14. Scott Hall-Rome, Ga.
15. Andrew Littleton-Chatsworth, Ga.
16. Danny Turner-Ringgold, Ga.
17. Davy Davis-Tunnel Hill, Ga.
18. Justin Owens-Rossville, Ga.
19. Phil Helton-Clinton, Tenn.
20. Ray Cook-Brasstown, N.C.
21. Bill Mahan-Lacey’s Spring, Ala.
22. Craig Greer-Cleveland, Tenn.
Did Not Start-Ronnie Johnson-Chattanooga, Tenn.
Time of Race: 19 minutes, 55 seconds
Margin of Victory: 5.350 seconds
Yellow Flags: Two (lap 12, 20)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Jason Croft 1, Donald McIntosh 2-40
Entries: 23
E-Z-GO Time Trials Top Qualifier: Jason Croft (Group A) 14.832 seconds
All Steel Engine Bonus ($100): Jesse Lowe
Provisional Starters: None
Sunoco Race Fuels Heat One Finish (8 laps/all transfer): David Payne, Tod Hernandez, Jesse Lowe, Danny Turner, Scott Hall, Craig Greer, Andrew Littleton, Davy Davis, Justin Owens, Phil Helton
2021 Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Southern Series Schedule/Results:
January 30-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-RANDY WEAVER (non-points)
April 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-JONATHAN DAVENPORT
May 22-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-DEVIN GILPIN
May 31-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-JIMMY OWENS
June 4-Wartburg Speedway-Wartburg, TN-JENSEN FORD
June 5-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-CORY HEDGECOCK
June 19-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-HUDSON O’NEAL
July 2-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-RANDY WEAVER
July 3-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-DAKOTAH KNUCKLES
July 4-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-JIMMY OWENS
August 6-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-MIKE MARLAR
August 7-Brownstown Speedway-Brownstown, IN-HUDSON O’NEAL
August 14-Duck River Raceway Park-Lewisburg, TN-RAINED OUT (Make-Up TBA)
August 28-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-MICHAEL CHILTON
September 3-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-DONALD McINTOSH
September 4-Mountain View Raceway-Spring City, TN-$4,000 to win
September 5-Tazewell Speedway-Tazewell, TN-$10,044 to win
September 18-Lake Cumberland Speedway-Burnside, KY-$5,000 to win
October 1-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$5,000 to-win
October 22-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-$4,000 to win
October 23-I-75 Raceway-Sweetwater, TN-$10,000 to win
November 27-411 Motor Speedway-Seymour, TN-$5,000 to win